Extendable structure for protecting electrical connectors

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for protecting connectors protruding from a metal enclosure of a hardware canister includes an enclosure that includes one or more components, wherein a portion of the one or more components protrudes out of a first side of the enclosure. The apparatus further includes a first extendable member assembly coupled to a lower interior surface of the enclosure, wherein the first extendable member assembly includes, a first structure coupled to a first compressible member, wherein a force applied to the first structure at the first side of the enclosure translates to the first compressible member and a lower edge of the first structure located below a lower edge of the one or more components, wherein a length of the first structure in an extended state is longer than a length of the protruding portion of the one or more components.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to protective structures, and inparticular, to protective structures for preventing damage to electricalconnectors protruding from a hardware enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A computer server rack is an example of an equipment chassis that canutilize multiple hardware canisters, where each hardware canister isremovable for quick access to hardware components. The hardware canistercan include heavy hardware and electrical components and as a result,the hardware canister can be cumbersome to handle. The hardware canisterutilizes electrical connectors for providing power and data to theelectrical components, where the electrical connectors plug into abackplane of a rear interior wall of the equipment chassis. Theelectrical connectors often protrude outside of the metal enclosure ofthe hardware canister due to the geometry of the backplane of the rearinterior wall of the equipment chassis. Due to the heavy weight of thehardware canister, the electrical connectors are susceptible tounintentional damage when maneuvering the hardware canister into and outof the equipment chassis.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention discloses an apparatus forprotecting connectors protruding from a metal enclosure of a hardwarecanister, the apparatus comprising an enclosure that includes one ormore components, wherein a portion of the one or more componentsprotrudes out of a first side of the enclosure; a first extendablemember assembly coupled to a lower interior surface of the enclosure,wherein the first extendable member assembly includes: a first structurecoupled to a first compressible member, wherein a force applied to thefirst structure at the first side of the enclosure translates to thefirst compressible member; and a lower edge of the first structurelocated below a lower edge of the one or more components, wherein alength of the first structure in an extended state is longer than alength of the protruding portion of the one or more components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example and notintended to limit the disclosure solely thereto, will best beappreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an extendable piston assembly for a metal enclosure withprotruding electrical connectors, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an extendable spring loaded arm assembly for a metalenclosure with protruding electrical connectors, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an enhanced front view of an extendable piston assemblyin relation to the protruding electrical connectors, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an enhanced front view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in relation to the protruding electrical connectors, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable piston assemblyin a retracted state against a rear wall of a chassis, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable piston assemblyin an extended state during a partial extraction of a metal enclosurefrom a chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5C depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable piston assemblyin an extended state during a full extraction of a metal enclosure froma chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in a retracted state against a rear wall of a chassis, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in an extended state during a partial extraction of a metalenclosure from a chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6C depicts an enhanced side view of extendable spring loaded armassembly in an extended state during a full extraction of a metalenclosure from a chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 depicts an enhanced top view of an extendable piston assembly ina partially extended state, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 depicts an enhanced top view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in a partially extended state, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide an extendable structure forprotecting electrical connectors protruding from a metal enclosure of ahardware canister. As the hardware canister is removed from an equipmentchassis, the weight of the hardware canister combined with gravity cancause the hardware canister to momentarily drop unintentionally. Duringthe momentary unintentional drop, the protruding electrical connectorsof the hardware canister might not have cleared a lower surface of theequipment chassis. As a result, the protruding electrical connectors cancome into contact with the lower surface of the equipment chassis. Theweight of the hardware canister, in addition to the impact with thelower surface due to momentum generated during that momentary drop ofthe hardware canister, can cause damage to the protruding electricalconnectors. The damage to the protruding electrical connectors caninclude separation of the connector from a circuit board, fracturing,chipping, and misalignment with respect to a backplane of a rearinterior wall of the equipment chassis.

An embodiment of the extendable structure for protecting protrudingelectrical connectors includes an extendable piston assembly for ahardware canister, where a piston can extend and retract to protect theprotruding electrical connectors. The piston of the extendable pistonassembly can contract as a front surface of the piston is pressedagainst the backplane of the rear interior wall of the equipmentchassis. The piston of the extendable piston assembly can expand due toa spring mechanism as the front surface of the piston is no longerpressed against the backplane of the rear interior wall of the equipmentchassis. As the hardware canister is removed out of an equipmentchassis, the extended piston acts as a shield and guide for removing thehardware canister without the protruding electrical connectorscontacting the lower surface of the equipment chassis. To ensure theprotruding electrical connectors do not contact the lower surface of theequipment chassis, the piston extends beyond the protruding electricalconnectors and a lower edge of the piston is lower than a lower edge ofthe protruding electrical connectors.

Another embodiment of the extendable structure for protecting protrudingelectrical connectors includes an extendable spring loaded arm assemblyfor a hardware canister, where an arm can extend and retract to protectthe protruding electrical connectors. The arm of the extendable springloaded arm assembly can contract as a front surface of the arm ispressed against the backplane of the rear interior wall of the equipmentchassis. The arm of the extendable spring loaded arm assembly can rotatearound a pin due to a torsion spring mechanism, as the front surface ofthe arm is no longer pressed against the backplane of the rear interiorwall of the equipment chassis. As the hardware canister is removed outof an equipment chassis, the extended arm acts as a shield and guide forremoving the hardware canister without the protruding electricalconnectors contacting the lower surface of the equipment chassis. Toensure the protruding electrical connectors do not contact the lowersurface of the equipment chassis, the arm extends beyond the protrudingelectrical connectors and a lower edge of the arm is lower than a loweredge of the protruding electrical connectors.

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein withreference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understoodthat the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of potentialembodiments of the invention and may take various forms. In addition,each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments isalso intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This descriptionis intended to be interpreted merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the various aspectsof the present disclosure. In the description, details of well-knownfeatures and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuringthe presented embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts an extendable piston assembly for a metal enclosure withprotruding electrical connectors, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. In this embodiment, canister 100 includes metalenclosure 102, circuit assembly 104, and extendable piston assembly 106,where circuit assembly 104 includes electrical connectors 108 protrudingoutside the surrounding walls of metal enclosure 102. Canister 100 canhouse various computer components which can connect to a chassis (notillustrated in FIG. 1) via electric connectors 108. Extendable pistonassembly 106 includes an extendable member 110 (i.e., structure) and acompressible member (e.g., spring), where member 110 has the ability toextend and retract into extendable piston assembly 106. The compressiblemember of extendable piston assembly 110 bias (i.e., base position) isin an extended state. Member 110 can retract into extendable pistonassembly 106, where a front edge of member 110 aligns with a bottom edgeof metal enclosure 102. Member 110 can also extend out of extendablepiston assembly 106, where a front edge of member 110 in an extendedstate is beyond a bottom edge of electrical connectors 108.

FIG. 2 depicts an extendable spring loaded arm assembly for a metalenclosure with protruding electrical connectors, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, canister 200 includes metal enclosure 202, circuitassembly 204, and extendable spring loaded arm assembly 206, wherecircuit assembly 204 includes electrical connectors 208 protrudingoutside the surrounding walls of metal enclosure 202. Canister 200 canhouse various computer components which can connect to a chassis (notillustrated in FIG. 2) via electric connectors 208. Extendable springloaded arm assembly 206 has the ability to extend and retract into metalenclosure 202 by rotating around a center axis of a torsionspring-loaded pin (i.e., compressible member). The torsion spring-loadedpin bias (i.e., base position) is in an extended state, where extendablespring loaded arm assembly 206 is extended out of metal enclosure 202.In a retracted state, a front edge of extendable spring loaded armassembly 206 aligns with a bottom edge of metal enclosure 202. In anextended state, a front edge of extendable spring loaded arm assembly206 is beyond a bottom edge of electrical connectors 208.

FIG. 3 depicts an enhanced front view of an extendable piston assemblyin relation to the protruding electrical connectors, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, metal enclosure 300 includes a vertically mountedcircuit assembly 302 with electrical connector 304. Extendable pistonassembly 306 is coupled to metal enclosure 300 along two interiorsurface, an interior surface of a side wall and an interior surface of abottom wall of metal enclosure 300. Piston 308 of extendable pistonassembly 306 is circular in shape, but in other embodiments piston 308can be any shape. Bottom edge 312 of piston 306 is positioned lower thanbottom edge 310 of electrical connector 304, to allow for bottom edge312 of piston 306 to contact a lower surface of a chassis housing thecanister rather than bottom edge 310 of electrical connector 304. Thevertical height difference between bottom edge 310 and bottom edge 312represents a maximum amount of deflection an end of piston 308 canexperience when in contact with the lower surface of the chassishousing. The maximum amount of deflection represents that maximum amountof vertical movement an end of piston 308 can deflect while stillprotecting bottom edge 310 of electrical connector 304.

FIG. 4 depicts an enhanced front view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in relation to the protruding electrical connectors, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, metal enclosure 400 includes a vertically mountedcircuit assembly 402 with electrical connector 404. Extendable springloaded arm assembly 406 is coupled to metal enclosure 400 along aninterior surface of a bottom wall of metal enclosure 400. Extendablespring loaded arm assembly 406 includes arm 408 (i.e., structure) andpin 410, where arm 408 rotates about pin 410 in a circular manner.Bottom edge 414 of arm 408 is positioned lower than bottom edge 412 ofelectrical connector 404, to allow for bottom edge 414 of arm 408 tocontact a lower surface of a chassis housing the canister rather thanbottom edge 414 of electrical connector 404. The vertical heightdifference between bottom edge 412 and bottom edge 414 represents amaximum amount of deflection an end of arm 408 can experience when incontact with the lower surface of the chassis housing. The maximumamount of deflection represents that maximum amount of vertical movementan end of arm 408 can deflect while still protecting bottom edge 412 ofelectrical connector 404.

FIG. 5A depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable piston assemblyin a retracted state against a rear wall of a chassis, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, canister 500 is situated inside chassis 502, whereelectrical connectors 504 connect to corresponding connectors on a rearwall of chassis 502. An enhanced cutaway side view of extendable pistonassembly 506 illustrates piston 510 being compressed by the rear wall ofchassis 502, where piston 510 is in a contracted state inside extendablepiston assembly 506. Section 508 represents a portion of piston 510 thatremains beyond extendable piston assembly 506, when in the contractedstate. In this embodiment, compressible member 512 is a spring capableof compressing and rebounding depending on an amount piston 510 iscompressed or extended. In another embodiment, compressible member 512is a damper capable of compressing to a contracted state and reboundingto an original state.

Maximum compression of compressible member 512 (i.e., spring or damper)occurs when canister 500 is situated inside chassis 502. Whilecompressible member 512 is in maximum compression, compressible member512 prevents piston 510 from completely entering extendable pistonassembly 510. Additionally, extendable piston assembly 510 can include abump stop with the compressible member, preventing vents piston 510 fromcompletely entering extendable piston assembly 510. In one embodiment,the interior walls of extendable piston assembly 506 can include aceramic coating to allow for piston 510 to transition between thecontracted state and the extended state. In other embodiment, theinterior walls of extendable piston assembly 506 can include bearingbased rollers to guide piston 510 during transitions between thecontracted state and the extended state.

FIG. 5B depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable piston assemblyin an extended state during a partial extraction of a metal enclosurefrom a chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

In this example, canister 500 is partially situated inside chassis 502,where electrical connectors 504 are no longer connected to correspondingconnectors on a rear wall of chassis 502. An enhanced cutaway side viewof extendable piston assembly 506 illustrates piston 510 in an extendedstate, while partially inside extendable piston assembly 506. Section508 represents a portion of piston 510 that remains beyond extendablepiston assembly 506, when in the extended state. As canister 500 isextracted out of chassis 502, compressible member 512 begins to expandat the same rate at which canister 500 is being extracted. Ascompressible member 512 expands, piston 510 is pushed outside ofextendable piston assembly 506. Section 508 of piston 510 begins toincrease until piston 510 is in a maximum extended position. Piston 510can include a protruding stop, where the protruding stop of piston 510interconnects with a protruding stop on an interior wall of extendablepiston assembly 506. The interconnection of the two protruding stops,prevents piston 510 from extending outside extendable piston assembly506.

FIG. 5C depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable piston assemblyin an extended state during a full extraction of a metal enclosure froma chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, canister 500 is situated outside chassis 502, whereelectrical connectors 504 are located past a lower wall of chassis 502.An enhanced cutaway side view of extendable piston assembly 506illustrates piston 510 in an extended state, while partially insideextendable piston assembly 506. Section 508 represents a portion ofpiston 510 that remains beyond extendable piston assembly 506, when inthe extended state. As canister 500 is full extracted out of chassis502, section 508 of piston 510 provides a guide and protective barrieragainst the lower wall of chassis 502. Section 508 of piston 510protects electrical connectors 504 by preventing electrical connectors504 from contacting the lower wall of chassis 502. Additionally, a loweredge of section 508 of piston 510 is situated lower than a lower edge ofelectrical connectors 504, as previously discussed in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6A depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in a retracted state against a rear wall of a chassis, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, canister 600 is situated inside chassis 602, whereelectrical connectors 604 connect to corresponding connectors on a rearwall of chassis 602. An enhanced cutaway side view of extendable springloaded arm assembly 606 illustrates arm 608 being retracted by the rearwall of chassis 602, where arm 608 is in a contracted state. Arm 608 ofextendable spring loaded arm assembly 606 pivots around pin 610, wherepin 610 utilizes a torsion spring to allow for arm 608 to compress andretract out of canister 600. Maximum compression of the torsion springutilized by pin 610 occurs when canister 600 is situated inside chassis602.

FIG. 6B depicts an enhanced side view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in an extended state during a partial extraction of a metalenclosure from a chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

In this example, canister 600 is partially situated inside chassis 602,where electrical connectors 604 are no longer connected to correspondingconnectors on a rear wall of chassis 602. An enhanced cutaway side viewof extendable spring loaded arm assembly 606 illustrates arm 608 in anextended state. As canister 600 is extracted out of chassis 602, atorsion spring of pin 610 begins to contract as canister 600 is beingextracted, due to the releasing of the pressure from the rear wall ofchassis 602. As the torsion spring utilized by pin 610 begins tocontract, arm 608 is pushed outside of canister 600. Arm 608 can includea protruding stop, where the protruding stop of arm 608 comes intocontact with a lower wall of canister 600 preventing further rotation ofarm 608 around pin 610. Alternatively, arm 608 of extendable springloaded arm assembly 606 can extended until the torsion spring of pin 610reaches a resting state, where the resting state represents the torsionspring of pin 610 experiencing a lack of external force (i.e., notorsion force applied).

FIG. 6C depicts an enhanced side view of extendable spring loaded armassembly in an extended state during a full extraction of a metalenclosure from a chassis, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

In this example, canister 600 is situated outside chassis 602, whereelectrical connectors 604 are located past a lower wall of chassis 602.An enhanced cutaway side view of extendable spring loaded arm assembly606 illustrates piston arm 608 in an extended state. As canister 600 isfull extracted out of chassis 602, arm 608 of extendable spring loadedarm assembly 606 provides a guide and protective barrier against thelower wall of chassis 602. Arm 608 of extendable spring loaded armassembly 606 protects electrical connectors 604 by preventing electricalconnectors 604 from contacting the lower wall of chassis 602.Additionally, a lower edge of arm 608 of extendable spring loaded armassembly 606 is situated lower than a lower edge of electricalconnectors 604, as previously discussed in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 depicts an enhanced top view of an extendable piston assembly ina partially extended state, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

In this embodiment, metal enclosure 700 includes a partially contractedextendable piston assembly 702 with piston 704 and compressible member706. Extendable piston assembly 702 is mounted in a lower corner ofmetal enclosure 700. Alternatively, extendable piston assembly 702 canbe mounted at any point along the lower wall of metal enclosure 700 andas previously discussed, piston 704 can be any shape (e.g., rectangle).

In another embodiment, an additional extendable piston assembly 702 ismounted in another lower corner of metal enclosure 700, where bothextendable piston assembly 702 are identical and utilize piston 704 andcompressible member 706 with the same or similar specifications. Dualextendable piston assembly 702 located on both lower corners of metalenclosure 700 provide additional support to minimize deflection of asingle piston 704 when utilizing only a single extendable pistonassembly 702. Additionally, a first piston 704 and a second piston 704of dual extendable piston assembly 702 can be connected at a lower edgevia a cross member orientated parallel to a lower edge of metalenclosure 700. Utilizing the cross member between the dual extendablepiston assembly 702 creates a protective U-shaped barrier when the firstpiston 704 and the second piston 704 are each in an extended state.

FIG. 8 depicts an enhanced top view of an extendable spring loaded armassembly in a partially extended state, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, metal enclosure 800 includes a partially contractedextendable spring loaded arm assembly 802 with arm 804, pin 806, andtorsion spring 808. Extendable spring loaded arm assembly 802 is mountedin a lower corner of metal enclosure 800. Alternatively, extendablespring loaded arm assembly 802 can be mounted at any point along thelower wall of metal enclosure 800 and as previously discussed, arm 804can be any shape. A first end of torsion spring 808 is coupled to arm804 and a second end of torsion spring 808 is coupled to the lower wallof metal enclosure 800. As arm 804 rotates counterclockwise around pin806, arm 806 contracts into metal enclosure 800 and a torsional force isapplied to torsion spring 808 creating tension in torsion spring 808. Asarm 804 rotates clockwise around pin 806, arm 806 extends out of metalenclosure 800 and a torsional force on torsion spring 808 decreasesreleasing the tension in torsion spring 808. Alternatively, arm 804 canrotate clockwise around pin 806 to contract into metal enclosure 800 andarm 804 can rotate counterclockwise around pin 806 to extend out ofmetal enclosure 800. As previously discussed in FIG. 6B, extendablespring loaded arm assembly 802 can utilize a stop to prevent arm 804from extending beyond a certain point. However, in this embodimentextendable spring loaded arm assembly 802 utilizes a sidewall of metalenclosure 800 as a stop for preventing arm 804 from rotating anyfurther.

In other embodiments, extendable piston assembly 702 and/or extendablespring loaded arm assembly 802 are mounted on a single plane surface,where a circuit board assembly with protruding electrical connectors aremounted on the single plane surface. The single plane surface acts as abase without the surround walls that encase the circuit board assemblywith protruding electrical connectors. In yet another embodiment,extendable piston assembly 702 and/or extendable spring loaded armassembly 802 are mounted on a circuit board assembly, without anadditional structure to support the circuit board assembly andextendable piston assembly 702 and/or extendable spring loaded armassembly 802 (e.g., enclosure or single plane surface).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting to the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

Having described preferred embodiments of an extendable structure forprotecting electrical connectors protruding from a metal enclosure of ahardware canister (which are intended to be illustrative and notlimiting), it is noted that modifications and variations may be made bypersons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It istherefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particularembodiments disclosed which are within the scope of the invention asoutlined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an enclosure thatincludes one or more components, wherein a portion of the one or morecomponents protrudes out of a first side of the enclosure, wherein theone or more components are electrical connectors that join to a firstwall of an equipment chassis; a first extendable member assembly coupledto a lower interior surface of the enclosure, wherein the firstextendable member assembly includes: a first structure coupled to afirst compressible member, wherein a force applied to the firststructure at the first side of the enclosure translates to the firstcompressible member; a pin coupled to the first structure, wherein thefirst structure rotates around a central axis of the pin; and a loweredge of the first structure located below a lower edge of the one ormore components, wherein a length of the first structure in an extendedstate is longer than a length of the protruding portion of the one ormore components.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a deflectionheight of the first structure is less than a height difference betweenthe lower edge of the first structure and the lower edge of the one ormore components.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstextendable member assembly is coupled to a second side of the enclosure.4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the extended state is a second sideof the enclosure preventing the first structure from rotating around thecentral axis of the pin.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the firstcompressible member is a torsional spring.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein a first end of the torsional spring is coupled to the firststructure and a second end of the torsional spring is coupled to thelower interior surface of the enclosure.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein a first end of the torsional spring is coupled to the firststructure and a second send of the torsional spring is coupled to pin.8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second extendablemember assembly coupled to the lower interior surface of the enclosure,wherein the second extendable member assembly includes: a secondstructure coupled to a second compressible member, wherein the forceapplied to the second structure at the first side of the enclosuretranslates to the second compressible member; and a lower edge of thesecond structure located below the lower edge of the one or morecomponents, wherein a length of the second structure in an extendedstate is longer than the length of the protruding portion of the one ormore components.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lower edge ofthe first structure is coupled to the lower edge of the secondstructure.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a deflection height ofthe second structure is equal to the deflection height of the firststructure.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a central axis of thesecond structure aligns with a central axis of the second compressiblemember.